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Thornton, 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, started 20 games and averaged 7.1 points and 2.6 assists in 26 minutes per game as a freshman, but split amid apparent disagreement with Duke coaches on his role in the program. He was rated 17th nationally and third among point guards in the 2015 class by ESPN.

So what are the chances Miami lands him? Not great, if he’s deciding solely on what he publicly said was his reason for leaving Duke.

In a school press release announcing his transfer, Thornton said he wanted to play closer to his home (Chatsworth, California). That seems to bode well for USC and Washington, two of the schools in Thornton’s final four. The other, Kansas, is the most prestigious program on his list. He has already visited those three schools.

He will sit out a year regardless of which Division I program he chooses; he would also lose a year of eligibility if he chose UM because of an ACC rule regarding in-conference transfers. However, a player of Thornton’s caliber likely believes he wouldn’t need more than two years to make a case for the NBA Draft. He would be a redshirt junior in 2017-18.

Miami believes Thornton will make his decision based on what’s best for his basketball career, rather than location.

It can tout its ball-screen offense, which is popular with active guards like Thornton, and Jim Larranaga‘s success in integrating transfers (several key players on the 2013 and 2016 Sweet 16 teams started their careers elsewhere). At Miami — after sitting out a year — Thornton could play alongside Ja’Quan Newton, who would be a senior in 2017. He could also take over the point that year if Newton raises his game and becomes an early NBA Draft entrant, an outside possibility but one that wouldn’t necessarily surprise UM coaches.

The Hurricanes can also point to Shane Larkin, whom they developed from a three-star recruit to a first-round pick in two college seasons. Thornton has similar athleticism, and was much more highly rated as a prep star.

The Hurricanes will give Newtonthe first crack at running the point this season, but he’s more of a slasher and scorer than the graduated Angel Rodriguez, a true point. There’s no real backup behind Newton; signees Dejan Vasiljevic and Bruce Brown, both two-guards, and forwards Davon Reed and Anthony Lawrence Jr. have ball-handling ability.